The township planning commission on Thursday recommended unanimously that the supervisors deny the plan proposed by Enviro-Organic Technologies Inc. of New Windsor, Md.

The pit would be about twice the size of a standard manure storage lagoon at a dairy farm.

Neighbors have expressed concerned about potential odors. Processed material from the pit would be spread or injected on farmland. The pit would be located about a mile from the Mercersburg Academy campus.

“We want full compliance on the federal, state and local levels,” said Bryan Salzmann, an attorney representing the academy. “I had some deep concerns. This isn’t a situation where the applicant is working toward addressing the inefficiencies.”

Enviro-Organic submitted the plan to the planning commission in January. The 142-acre property is owned by Philip and Victoria Snader, vice president and president of EOT, respectively.

Township engineer Tim Cormandy of Martin and Martin, Chambersburg, notified the company in March of 46 deficiencies in its plan.

Several were significant, such as the sight distance at Christy Road and Pa. 16 as well as the Christy being a narrow, unimproved township road.

“There has been no response to the March letter,” Salzmann said. “To my knowledge there have been zero submissions.”

ETO meanwhile asked that the township extend the time for the township to consider the plan, he said.

“These behaviors do not warrant a situation where the applicant should be awarded a time extension,” Salzmann wrote to the commission.

Salzmann informed the commission on Thursday that the clock was running out on the application and if the township did not act quickly the plan would be deemed approved.